Mid-Prairie Community School District
Kalona, Wellman, West Chester
Mid-Prairie Central Office Community Room, Wellman, IA 52356
June 8, 2026 – 6:15 p.m.
President Randy Billups called the meeting to order.
Board members present: Mary Allred, Randy Billups, Denise Chittick, Kirah Johnson, Ryan Schlabaugh, and Jake Snider (arrived at 6:25 p.m.).
Board members absent: Jed Seward, Jake Snider (arrived at 6:25 p.m.).
Also Present: Superintendent Brian Stone, Board Secretary/School Business Official Jeff Swartzentruber.
Pledge of Allegiance
Read the School Mission Statement by Ryan Schlabaugh
Adopt the Agenda
Mary Allred moved to adopt the agenda as presented. Seconded by Denise Chittick. Motion carried 5-0.
Hawk Highlight – Mid-Prairie Girls Golf Team – Coach Tracy McArtor and members of the Girls Golf Team that went to State golf were recognized for their team and individual accomplishments for one of the best girls’ golf seasons in school history with school records broken at the state meet. 9 out of 13 team members were academic all-conference.
Snider arrived during this agenda item at 6:25 p.m.
Public Forum
No one spoke.
BUSINESS MEETING
Consent Items
Superintendent Stone announced the following transfers to be effective the beginning of the 2026-2027 School Year:
Ryan Schlabaugh moved to approve the following consent items and to add the Baseball Team Trip to Omaha Nebraska to the agenda under Student Learning.
Minutes of Previous Meetings
The minutes of May 11, 2026 and May 21, 2026;
Finance Report
The Finance Report for Year-to-date May 2026;
Payment of Bills
The bills as listed for June 8, 2026; Prepaid Bills;
Open Enrollment Requests
Open Enrollment In Requests total 0 students;
Open Enrolled Out Requests total 0 students;
Personnel Items
Contract issued to Sadie Anderson, West Elementary 3rd Grade Teacher, $56,390 per annum;
Contract issued to Kendal Burk, West Elementary 3rd Grade Teacher, $50,000 per annum;
Contract issued to Mikaela Lunsford, Middle School 7th Grade Science Teacher, $52,068 per annum;
Contract issued to Emma Kossley, High School English Teacher, $52,000 per annum;
Contract issued to Emma Kossley, High School Assistant Speech Coach, $3,194 per annum;
Contract issued to Emma Kossley, High School Assistant Fall Musical Coach, $2,130 per annum;
Contract issued to Emma Kossley, High School Assistant Spring Play Coach, $2,130 per annum;
Contract issued to Hayley Hansen, 5th Grade Band/HSAP Band Teacher, $50,000 per annum:
Contract issued to Aaron Coghlan, Middle School Football Coach, $3,128 per annum;
Contract issued to Myah Lugar, High School Assistant Girls Basketball Coach, $2,958 per annum;
Work Agreement issued to Cinthia Vera Ventura, High School General Cook, $15.75 per hour;
Contract issued to Jessica Jones, High School TLC Assistant Coach, $2,000 per annum;
Contract issued to Brody Channell, High School TLC Assistant Coach, $2,000 per annum;
Contract issued to Sara Puttmann, High School TLC Assistant Coach, $2,000 per annum;
Contract issued to Elsa Schmidt, High School TLC Assistant Coach, $2,000 per annum;
Contract issued to Dylan Walther, High School TLC Assistant Coach, $2,000 per annum;
Contract issued to Collette McClellan, High School TLC Technology, $2,000 per annum;
Contract issued to Kloe Beitzel, West Elementary TLC Assistant Coach, $2,000 per annum;
Contract issued to Emma Johnson, West Elementary TLC Assistant Coach, $2,000 per annum;
Contract issued to Kelsey Stumpf, West Elementary TLC Assistant Coach, $2,000 per annum;
Contract issued to Hannah Gingerich, West Elementary TLC Assistant Coach, $2,000 per annum;
Contract issued to Lexi Edmundson, West Elementary TLC Assistant Coach, $2,000 per annum;
Contract issued to Mackenzie Kos, West Elementary TLC Assistant Coach, $2,000 per annum;
Contract issued to Kara Troyer, East Elementary TLC Assistant Coach, $2,000 per annum;
Contract issued to Melissa Gerot, East Elementary TLC Assistant Coach, $2,000 per annum;
Contract issued to Paige Hout, East Elementary TLC Assistant Coach, $2,000 per annum;
Contract issued to Katie Reuman, East Elementary TLC Assistant Coach, $2,000 per annum;
Contract issued to Ashley Bartels, Middle School TLC Assistant Coach, $2,000 per annum;
Contract issued to Rebecca Ryder, Middle School TLC Assistant Coach, $2,000 per annum;
Contract issued to Marissa Tuning, Middle School TLC Assistant Coach, $2,000 per annum;
Contract issued to Stephanie Schlabaugh, Middle School TLC Assistant Coach, $2,000 per annum;
Contract issued to Elsie Spilman, Middle School TLC Assistant Coach, $2,000 per annum;
Contract issued to Melanie Steinhart, Middle School TLC Assistant Coach, $2,000 per annum;
Contract issued to Rachel Foubert, Middle School TLC Assistant Coach, $2,000 per annum;
Resignation of Emma Haynes, 4th Grade Teacher, $50,000 per annum, effective End of 2025 2026 Contract Year;
Resignation of Rob Benge, High School Custodian, $17.56 per hour, effective June 1, 2026;
Resignation of Dannielle Williams, 0.5 FTE East Elementary Paraprofessional, $16.20 per hour, effective End of 2025 2026 Contract Year;
Resignation of Tori Lybarger, East Elementary Paraprofessional, $16.20 per hour, effective End of 2025 2026 Contract Year;
Resignation of Kayti Chalupa, West Elementary Paraprofessional, $16.85 per hour, effective End of 2025 2026 Contract Year;
Resignation of Libby Peiffer, 0.5 FTE West Elementary Preschool Paraprofessional, $15.50 per hour, effective End of 2025 2026 Contract Year;
Resignation of Elizabeth Harris, Middle School Paraprofessional, $17.31 per hour, effective End of 2025 2026 Contract Year;
Approval of list of returning coaches for Spring 2026-2027 Sports and Activities
Approval of Volunteer Coaches for Summer Sports
Rylee Vercande – High School Softball Sarah Stoutner – Middle School Softball
Fundraising Requests – None presented for approval
Kirah Johnson seconded the consent items. Motion carried 6-0.
Student Learning
Reports
The Board reviewed the Administrators’ written reports to the Board. The Board was also provided Building Handbooks for initial review with intent to begin the review process at the June 22,2026 Meeting. Time was allotted to ask questions and discuss the reports. No questions were asked.
School Board Policy 505.5 Graduation Requirement – Second Reading
Superintendent Stone reviewed the proposed changes to Policy 505.5 Graduation Requirements as passed on First Reading at the May 11, 2026 School Board Meeting. Again, it is recommended that Policy 505.5 be amended to include more specific language about Special Education Students’ graduation requirements.
Ryan Schlabaugh moved to approve Board Policy 505.5 Graduation Requirements as presented on Second Reading. Kirah Johnson seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.
School Board Policy 505.5 Graduation Requirement Update Regarding Civics Test– First Reading
Superintendent Stone reviewed the legislative changes that prompted one additional language change to require the students to pass a Civics Test before graduation. It is recommended that Policy 505.5 be amended to include more specific language about newly required Civics Test. The Board discussed the process of the test and asked questions for clarification.
Kirah Johnson moved to approve Board Policy 505.5 Graduation Requirements as presented on First Reading. Denise Chittick seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.
Baseball Team to Omaha
The baseball team will be traveling out of state to attend the College World Series in Omaha Nebraska for the weekend of June 12 to June 14.
Ryan Schlabaugh moved to approved the baseball team travel out of state to Omaha Nebraska to the College World Series. Mary Allred seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.
LifeWise Academy Acknowledgement
Board President Randy Billups and Superintendent Stone reviewed the discussion from the Work Session of March 23, 2026, and the request for the Board to sign the Acknowledgement Document to begin a program with East Elementary and the program to take place at Kalona Mennonite Church. At the May 11, 2026, School Board Meeting the Board discussed the requested action by the Board for this program. There was a request for discussion of the legal implications for this program with questions raised by Board members. The questions were provided to legal counsel for response. The Board discussed the responses as well as the acknowledgement request letter that was emailed to the board after the last meeting for initial review for questions. The Board discussed the request, situation, and legal implications. Additionally, Johnson discussed the differences in policies between local districts.
The Board took no action to LifeWise Academy request for an Acknowledgement Letter.
Alternative Kindergarten/Kindergarten Recommendation
Superintendent Stone and Board President Randy Billups reviewed the action taken at the Special Board Meeting to approve to hire a fifth Kindergarten Teacher due to the overall increase in numbers for the 2026-2027 School Year. With the approval there would now be six (6) Kindergarten and Alternative Kindergarten (AK) Teachers. The initial recommendation was to have six sections of Kindergarten and eliminate AK as there are currently on 7 students enrolled in AK. The Board asked administrators a number of questions about AK class sizes and Kindergarten class sizes from the past 5 to 8 years, as well as curriculum taught in both classroom types and other factors. The initial data elements requested were provided to Board members prior to the meeting for Board educational purposes only such that the conversation at the Board table could be more focused. The Board discussed the data, and asked additional questions. The Board discussed the implications of keeping AK versus moving away from it for a school year. Also discussed about additional inquiry to Kindergarten families to evaluate their student’s Kindergarten needs. Then, the Board will evaluate the responses and decide at the next meeting whether AK goes forward for the 2026-2027 School Year.
Ryan Schlabaugh moved to table the decision for Alternative Kindergarten for the 2026-2027 School Year and make a decision at the July. 13, 2026. Kirah Johnson seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.
Finance-Long Range Planning
Public Hearing Notice for Flexibility Account Spending
School Business Official Swartzentruber shared with the Board that the Iowa Department of Education’s Finance Department reviewed the documentation on the HSAP Flexibility transfer and spending in the two days after the May 11, 2026, meeting. This was the first formal review of the documentation since Fiscal Year 2021 as a new staff consultant at the Department of Education is now tasked with the review. In the Department’s review, it was determined that a Public Hearing is required for the Spending of the Flexibility funds and not required for the Transfer of the Funds as the District has been doing. A Public Hearing to allow the spending needs to take place and a Board Resolution to spend the Flexibility Funds. The Public Hearing is proposed for Monday, June 22, 2026 at 6:30pm. Following the Hearing a Resolution for the Spending of the Flexibility Funds would follow.
Kirah Johnson moved to approve a Public Hearing on June 22, 2026, at 6:30pm for the purpose of public input on the Spending of the Home School Assistance Program Flexibility funds that were transferred in February of 2026 as recommended. Jake Snider seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.
Grant Wood AEA Amendment
School Business Official Swartzentruber directed the Board’s attention to a contract amendment requested by the Grant Wood due to State Legislative action that changed the State Foundation Aid Payments from Monthly to Quarterly beginning in July 2026. Grant Wood’s contract had requested that the District pay them monthly in the past year to coincide with the State Foundation Aid payment schedule. The amendment moves the payment to Grant Wood AEA from monthly to quarterly.
Ryan Schlabaugh moved to approve Grant Wood AEA amendment as presented. Denise Chittick seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.
Performance Therapy Agreement
Superintendent Stone directed the Board’s attention to the annual contract renewal for the Athletic Trainer services for injured athletes and staffing of events with Athletic Trainers. The fee for the upcoming year is $8,612.50. It is the same as last year’s fee. It is recommended that we continue this contract for the 2026-2027 School Year.
Kirah Johnson moved to approve the Performance Therapies, P.C. contract for Athletic Training Services for the 2026-2027 School Year as recommended. Mary Allred seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.
D, R and C, Inc. Reroofing Proposals Due to Hail Damage
School Business Official Swartzentruber directed the Board’s attention to two documents that outlined the repairs needed after the April 2, 2026 hail storm in Kalona. The majority of the proposals are covered by insurance through the Storm Protection Fund and through EMC. As these proposals exceed the $25,000 single limit, it is best to have these proposals approved by the Board so the work can progress.
Ryan Schlabaugh moved to approve the D, R, and C, Inc. proposals for $493,200 as presented. Jake Snider seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.
Superintendent Compensation and Two-Year Contract
School Business Official Swartzentruber directed the Board’s attention to the proposed wage and package increase for Superintendent Stone for the 2026-2027 School Year. The proposed salary increase is $5,200, or a 3.11% increase over 2025-2026 for a total salary of $172,450. The total package increase is $6,634 for a 3.02% total package increase. These proposed in light of the 3.42% total package increase for all staff for 2026-2027. This would be recommended for approval. The Board asked questions for clarification and understanding.
Denise Chittick moved to approve the salary of $172,500 for the 2026-2027 for the two-year rolling contract updates and the overall package increase of $6,634, or 3.02%. Kirah Johnson seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.
Additional Information
Superintendent Stone asked the Board about their interest in a Professional Development activity with IASB on the June 22, 2026 meeting and Work Session. Tammi Drawbaugh has availability for this date. The Board appeared to be in favor of a training session.
Board Highlights
Announcements and Suggestions for Next Agenda
The next Work Session Meeting will be on Monday, June 22, 2026, at 6:15 p.m. Agenda items to include: Review of Board Policies Chapters 100, 300, and 400 and Board Policy Primer Updates; and Public Hearing on the HSAP Flexibility Spending Plan and the Spending Resolution.
The next regular Board meeting will be on Monday, July 13, 2026, at 6:15 p.m. at the Central Office Community Room. Agenda items to include: Alternative Kindergarten decision.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 8:12 p.m.